Scott, If I remember correctly, you work for IBM? I started my career there developing microcode for communications controllers at RTP back in '83 (contractor). I haven't been in banking for years, but that's nice to hear. During my last gig, a conversion to SAP resulted in catastrophic failures of 70 (out of 100) of the "primary systems" :(. When that co later decided to outsource IT, 6 providers were evaluated...IBM was the only one who could have even come close to pulling it off, but of course, clueless top management went the cheap route, and I bolted. Although I could have remained on at the same salary and benefits (around 150K), I'd had enough of corporate america. If IBM had been selected, I would have stayed on...communications was my specialty (systems programmer) spanning many platforms and online systems. I miss the "techie aspect", but not the bs one bit.

Yes, I spent 18 years with IBM mostly in banking there as well. The last five I've been with First Data corporation. I followed most of my IBM co-workers over to FDC in fact. Depending on the timing of things I may go back to Blue at some point.

Don't know if you're talking business interests or personal. I loved growing a company, but that's because the one I owned really grew. Don't know how much of that was luck and how much of it was skill. We have some friends who just filed for bankruptcy after their business failed. That would be one of my worst nightmares.

I'm the poster child for "Jack of all trades, master of nothing." I can do some of just about everything, but have never become really good at anything!

I believe you could make more than $50K a year from home giving old women massages. :)

Did better than that back in New England restoring antiique clocks. It's a disappearing skill and still a strong demand for the service. I'll get back into it again at some point - since moving south, have not hung out my shingle.